Integrated separator-distributor for falling film evaporator

Abstract

A falling film evaporator includes a plurality of evaporator tubes through which a volume of thermal energy transfer medium is flowed and a separator to separate a flow of liquid refrigerant from a vapor and liquid refrigerant mixture. A distributor distributes a flow of liquid refrigerant over the plurality of evaporator tubes. One or more vents stacks direct a flow of vapor refrigerant from the separator to a vent stack outlet in proximity to a refrigerant pool of the evaporator.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:
 a compressor flowing a flow of refrigerant therethrough; 
 a falling film evaporator in flow communication with the compressor including:
 a plurality of evaporator tubes through which a volume of thermal energy transfer medium is flowed; 
 a separator to separate a flow of liquid refrigerant from a vapor and liquid refrigerant mixture; 
 a distributor to distribute the flow of liquid refrigerant over the plurality of evaporator tubes; and 
 one or more vents stacks extending from a separator outlet at the separator downwardly toward a refrigerant pool of the evaporator to direct a flow of vapor refrigerant downwardly from the separator to a vent stack outlet in proximity with the refrigerant pool of the evaporator, the vent stack outlet located vertically below the separator outlet. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of evaporator tubes, the separator, the distributor and the one or more vent stacks are disposed in an evaporator housing. 
     
     
       3. The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow of liquid refrigerant flows from the separator into the distributor through a drain disposed in a shared wall of the separator and the distributor. 
     
     
       4. The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vent stacks are arranged symmetrically with respect to a refrigerant inlet of the separator. 
     
     
       5. The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more vent stacks are two vent stacks. 
     
     
       6. The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator includes one or more mechanical eliminators through which the flow of vapor refrigerant is directed before entering the one or more vent stacks. 
     
     
       7. The HVAC system of  claim 6 , wherein the mechanical eliminator is a perforated plate or a mesh screen. 
     
     
       8. The HVAC system of  claim 1 , wherein the separator is disposed above the distributor. 
     
     
       9. The HVAC system of  claim 1 , further comprising a suction nozzle at the evaporator to direct the flow of vapor refrigerant from the evaporator to the compressor. 
     
     
       10. A falling film evaporator comprising:
 a plurality of evaporator tubes through which a volume of thermal energy transfer medium is flowed; 
 a separator to separate a flow of liquid refrigerant from a vapor and liquid refrigerant mixture; 
 a distributor to distribute the flow of liquid refrigerant over the plurality of evaporator tubes; and 
 one or more vents stacks extending from a separator outlet at the separator downwardly toward a refrigerant pool of the evaporator to direct a flow of vapor refrigerant downwardly from the separator to a vent stack outlet in proximity with the refrigerant pool of the evaporator, the vent stack outlet located vertically below the separator outlet. 
 
     
     
       11. The falling film evaporator of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of evaporator tubes, the separator, the distributor and the one or more vent stacks are disposed in an evaporator housing. 
     
     
       12. The falling film evaporator of  claim 10 , wherein the flow of liquid refrigerant flows from the separator into the distributor through a drain disposed in a shared wall of the separator and the distributor. 
     
     
       13. The falling film evaporator of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more vent stacks are arranged symmetrically with respect to a refrigerant inlet of the separator. 
     
     
       14. The falling film evaporator of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more vent stacks are two vent stacks. 
     
     
       15. The falling film evaporator of  claim 10 , wherein the separator includes one or more mechanical eliminators through which the flow of vapor refrigerant is directed before entering the one or more vent stacks. 
     
     
       16. The falling film evaporator of  claim 15 , wherein the mechanical eliminator is a perforated plate or a mesh screen. 
     
     
       17. The falling film evaporator of  claim 10 , wherein the separator is disposed above the distributor. 
     
     
       18. The falling film evaporator of  claim 10 , further comprising a suction nozzle at the evaporator to direct the flow of vapor refrigerant from the evaporator.